SETTING THE STAGE In this session, participants will be able to create and measure shapes using Geometer’s Sketchpad. Focusing Questions How can animation help illustrate a simple geometric concept? Why should we use Geometer’s Sketchpad as a tool to learn about Geometry? Materials The following materials are used in this session: Laptops Projector Geometer’s Sketchpad Software Smartboard Resources The following resources will be used in this session: Geometers Sketchpad software and brief PowerPoint presentation. Framing the Session Begin by displaying an animated triangle with all angles added together to equal 180 degrees.Ask the class:Who could tell me what this simple animation illustrates? Answer:The sum of all angles in a triangle equals 180 degrees even if we change the area. Teaching Demonstrate to participants the steps necessary to create a triangle and measure the angles of the shape. “Watch me as I show you how to draw a triangle and measure it on the Sketchpad software.There are many steps involved in this process. We will plot the points on the canvas. Next, we will draw the lines. Lastly, we will use the measure menu to make the measurements. Guided Practice “Now it is your turn to construct a triangle and measure its angles.Take some time to create the triangle.Draw in all the lines.Measure the three angles and find the area.In addition, take a measurement of the triangle’s perimeter.What happens to the sum of the angles when you expand the perimeter and the area?Answer: The sum of the angles will always stay the same. WORK TIME Getting Started “You will be creating a triangle.After you create the triangle, you will measure the three angles in a triangle. You will measure the area and perimeter. In addition, you will measure the sum of the angles using the calculate function on the Top menu. Participant Activity Participants will follow the steps outlined below to create and measure the triangle. Steps 1. Creating an Angle 1.Click the point button on the floating toolbar. 2.Plot three points in Sketchpad 3.Select the arrow button on the floating toolbar 4.Click on each point to select. 5.Click on the top menu – Measure—Angles 6.Notice that the points are now labeled. 7.Repeat the process by selecting different point orders to create angle measurements.Examples m<ABC, m<BAC, m<ACB Steps 2. – Sum of Angles in a Triangle 1.Top menu – Measure- Calculate 2.Select first angle measurement on the screen. 3.Click the addition sign on the calculator 4.Repeat the process for all the angles and click equals 5.The total should equal 180 degrees Steps 3. - Construct a Shape For this example, we will use the triangle. However, other shapes can be constructed this way. 1.Use the select arrow tool and select all three points. 2.Top menu – Construct—Triangle Interior. Steps 4. - Measure Perimeter and Area 1.Highlight the shape – click the shape and a grid should appear. 2.Top menu – Measure – Perimeter 3.Top Menu- Measure – Area Steps 5. - Animate a Shape 1.Move a shape’s point in any direction 2.Top menu – Display – Animate Point 3.To stop animation – Top Menu – Display – Stop Animate Facilitator Conferring Circulate around the room and make sure all participants are clear on the steps.Provide support to any students who need assistance.Answer any questions that may arise about the activity. Take note of particularly good representations of a triangle that can be presented during the sharing time. SHARE Many of you did a really good job.Why don’t we share what we found out about making a triangle? What advantages did you find in using this program? Who can share with the rest of the Squad some benefits of using Geometer’s Sketchpad? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Author: Joseph Pascarelli Email: jpascarelli@schools.nyc.gov School/Employer: MS 118, Bronx, NY Title: Technology Coach/Coordinator
SETTING THE STAGE
In this session, participants will be able to create and measure shapes using Geometer’s Sketchpad.
Focusing Questions
How can animation help illustrate a simple geometric concept?
Why should we use Geometer’s Sketchpad as a tool to learn about Geometry?
Materials
The following materials are used in this session:
Laptops
Projector
Geometer’s Sketchpad Software
Smartboard
Resources
The following resources will be used in this session: Geometers Sketchpad software and brief PowerPoint presentation.
Framing the Session
Begin by displaying an animated triangle with all angles added together to equal 180 degrees. Ask the class: Who could tell me what this simple animation illustrates?
Answer: The sum of all angles in a triangle equals 180 degrees even if we change the area.
Teaching
Demonstrate to participants the steps necessary to create a triangle and measure the angles of the shape.
“Watch me as I show you how to draw a triangle and measure it on the Sketchpad software. There are many steps involved in this process. We will plot the points on the canvas. Next, we will draw the lines. Lastly, we will use the measure menu to make the measurements.
Guided Practice
“Now it is your turn to construct a triangle and measure its angles. Take some time to create the triangle. Draw in all the lines. Measure the three angles and find the area. In addition, take a measurement of the triangle’s perimeter. What happens to the sum of the angles when you expand the perimeter and the area? Answer: The sum of the angles will always stay the same.
WORK TIME
Getting Started
“You will be creating a triangle. After you create the triangle, you will measure the three angles in a triangle. You will measure the area and perimeter. In addition, you will measure the sum of the angles using the calculate function on the Top menu.
Participant Activity
Participants will follow the steps outlined below to create and measure the triangle.
Steps 1. Creating an Angle
1. Click the point button on the floating toolbar.
2. Plot three points in Sketchpad
3. Select the arrow button on the floating toolbar
4. Click on each point to select.
5. Click on the top menu – Measure—Angles
6. Notice that the points are now labeled.
7. Repeat the process by selecting different point orders to create angle measurements. Examples m<ABC, m<BAC, m<ACB
Steps 2. – Sum of Angles in a Triangle
1. Top menu – Measure- Calculate
2. Select first angle measurement on the screen.
3. Click the addition sign on the calculator
4. Repeat the process for all the angles and click equals
5. The total should equal 180 degrees
Steps 3. - Construct a Shape
For this example, we will use the triangle. However, other shapes can be constructed this way.
1. Use the select arrow tool and select all three points.
2. Top menu – Construct—Triangle Interior.
Steps 4. - Measure Perimeter and Area
1. Highlight the shape – click the shape and a grid should appear.
2. Top menu – Measure – Perimeter
3. Top Menu- Measure – Area
Steps 5. - Animate a Shape
1. Move a shape’s point in any direction
2. Top menu – Display – Animate Point
3. To stop animation – Top Menu – Display – Stop Animate
Facilitator Conferring
Circulate around the room and make sure all participants are clear on the steps. Provide support to any students who need assistance. Answer any questions that may arise about the activity.
Take note of particularly good representations of a triangle that can be presented during the sharing time.
SHARE
Many of you did a really good job. Why don’t we share what we found out about making a triangle? What advantages did you find in using this program? Who can share with the rest of the Squad some benefits of using Geometer’s Sketchpad?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Author: Joseph Pascarelli
Email: jpascarelli@schools.nyc.gov
School/Employer: MS 118, Bronx, NY
Title: Technology Coach/Coordinator